PoK Will Naturally Join India, No Need For Military Action: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

India's Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, stated in an interview with PTI that India will continue to assert its claim over Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (PoK), but believes that the region will eventually choose to merge with India due to the development and peace in Kashmir.

Singh stated, "I think India will not have to do anything. The way the ground situation has changed in Jammu and Kashmir, the way the region is witnessing economic progress and the way peace has returned there, I think demands will emerge from people of PoK that they should merge with India".

Singh emphasised that India does not intend to use force to capture PoK, as he expects the people there to express a desire to be part of India.

Singh also highlighted the significant improvement in the ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir, suggesting that a time may come when the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) will no longer be necessary in the region.

However, he clarified that decisions regarding AFSPA are under the jurisdiction of the Union Home Ministry.

Regarding the ongoing conflict with Pakistan, Singh called for an end to Pakistan's support for cross-border terrorism, emphasising that India will not tolerate any attempts to destabilise the country.

The relationship between India and Pakistan has been strained, particularly since India's airstrikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot, Pakistan, in response to the Pulwama terror attack in February 2019.

Tensions escalated further when India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and reorganized the state into two union territories in August 2019.

India has consistently stated its desire for normal relations with Pakistan but has emphasised that Pakistan must take steps to create a terrorism-free and friendly environment for such engagement.